The 76ers had to pull off some unlikely moves to even have a chance at winning their first play-in game in team history.
Nicolas Batum made crucial 3-pointers. Buddy Hield was also a factor. Even the promise of free chicken nuggets helped boost the offense and quiet the boos from Philly fans in the arena.
But when it mattered most, it was all about Joel Embiid. It’s always Joel Embiid. With the NBA MVP leading the charge, the 76ers showed they can go far in the postseason as long as he’s playing.
Embiid put up 23 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and made a crucial assist to Kelly Oubre Jr. for a go-ahead three-point play, leading the 76ers to a 105-104 victory over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament on Wednesday night.
“Plenty of booing,” Embiid said with a smile. “But we stuck together. It just goes to show that even when I’m not at my best throughout the game until the fourth quarter, we still find a way to win.”
The 76ers secured the No. 7 seed and will face the New York Knicks in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Game 1 will be on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
The Heat, who made it to the NBA Finals last year from the play-in tournament, will host Chicago on Friday night. The winner of that game will secure the No. 8 seed.
Embiid had a quiet game until late in the fourth quarter when he led the Sixers’ comeback from a 14-point deficit in the second half.
Despite missing 43 games this season due to a knee injury, Embiid played a crucial role as Batum and Hield drove the 76ers’ offense in the second half. Batum scored 20 points.
“We owe the win to them,” said Embiid. “Those guys stepped up and helped us win.” However, when the Sixers needed crucial points, it was their big man who delivered.
Embiid made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:33 left in the game, giving the Sixers a 93-91 lead and igniting the crowd, which had been critical of the team at halftime. After the Sixers lost the lead, Embiid responded with a clutch three-point play, putting them ahead 96-94.
With the score tied at 96, Miami’s Tyler Herro committed a backcourt violation, giving the Sixers possession. Embiid then assisted Oubre for a basket under the basket, drawing a foul and extending their lead to 99-96, securing the victory.
The 76ers played as if it was the final and most important game of the season. They preferred to face the Knicks rather than the tough Celtics by aiming for the No. 7 seed instead of the No. 8.
Miami faces a tough road ahead if they make it to the playoffs for the second year in a row under this format. They could potentially face the Celtics.
Herro, who made a crucial 3-pointer just before the game ended, scored 25 points. Butler, who seemed to be affected by a knee injury in the first half, scored 19 points.
Coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized the need to take the difficult path and prepare for Friday’s game. He encouraged his team to embrace the challenge and focus on playing well in front of their home crowd.
Butler made four steals in the first half but struggled to score in the fourth quarter, possibly due to his knee injury. He mentioned needing an MRI on Thursday to assess the extent of the injury.
“It felt like I couldn’t perform at my best, which is disappointing given the timing of the game,” Butler said. “I hope I’ll be okay, but I can’t say for sure right now.”
